The Power of Indigenous Entrepreneurship in Canada Acknowledgment

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the workshop participants and contributors who gave their time to provide us with honest insight and recommendations and to share their experiences. Each voice provided meaningful insight that we can take forward. A special thank you to Jarret Leaman, Founder of the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Technology, for taking the time to review this paper and provide us with critical feedback.

We would also like to acknowledge that our workshop took place in which is traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is home to many diverse , and Métis.

We thank you for your inspiration and guidance.

Miigwetch Contents

Introduction: Sparking the conversation 4 Context: The State of Indigenous Entrepreneurship 6 Barriers to Success and Opportunities for Change 8 Breaking Down Barriers 12 PayPal’s Commitment: Responding the call to action 14 Conclusion 15 Introduction: Sparking the conversation

When Dakota and Jesse Brant opened up their jewelry store Sapling & Flint in Six Nations of the Grand River, they knew it would help build the local economy on their reserve and support fellow Indigenous artists. When they decided to launch an online shop, they knew it would catapult their business past the boundaries of their community into a global market. Soon, about 87 per-cent of their sales were online, selling to customers across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

“Indigenous communities are some of the most economically isolated places in Canada and can have challenges for job creation,” Dakota recently told PayPal. “Because of e-commerce, our market went from two or three craft bazaars and Powwows a year, to 365 days of business opportunity.”

Small businesses are at the heart of Canada’s economic success. As a global leader in the e-commerce ecosystem and a champion of Canadian and businesses. There are more than 43,000 private entrepreneurs – particularly those from underserved Indigenous-owned businesses and the number of communities — PayPal has seen first-hand how profitable Indigenous businesses has increased by 15 digital solutions can help businesses harness the per cent.1 Moreover, the growth rate of self-employed power of the digital economy to innovate and Indigenous people is higher than the growth rate of grow. As a company, PayPal has a responsibility to self-employed overall.2 empower people so they can participate in not only the local economy, but also the global marketplace. However, several key barriers prevent Indigenous We are committed to making sure every single communities from fully reaping the benefits of an person can exercise that right and in turn, improve increasingly globalized marketplace. their financial wellness, no matter where they live or what their circumstances. To gain a deeper understanding of these barriers, PayPal Canada hosted a workshop to learn about At a time when reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples Indigenous experiences and the challenges of is at the forefront of government policymaking, Indigenous business owners face. The workshop business engagement, and economic development, was an intimate gathering of Indigenous business PayPal is committed to finding meaningful ways to leaders, thought leaders, and experts from the First engage and support Indigenous communities, people Nations community.

P. 4 Knowing the PayPal platform is a strong tool for hoped that by convening these important discussions, many small businesses across Canada, one of the we could find new ways to support eforts to ensure goals of the workshop was to come out with a better Indigenous entrepreneurs can achieve their true understanding of how Indigenous-led businesses use potential. We wanted to create a platform that would e-commerce and online payment processors like amplify Indigenous voices and ideas to the broader PayPal. We also asked our audience to explain what fintech industry so we can collectively work towards they perceived to be the opportunities for success levelling the playing field for this underserved and what obstacles stood in their way. community.

Driven by PayPal’s mission to create an inclusive economy and as an ardent supporter and growth partner of small businesses across Canada, PayPal

The workshop consisted of two parts:

1. A morning panel — comprised of Indigenous leaders in entrepreneurship, business relations, tech education, and policy —discussed the barriers that make entrepreneurship difcult in both remote and urban Indigenous communities. The panel was followed by a fireside chat with business owners, Jennifer Harper of Cheekbone Beauty and Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow of Birch Bark Cofee Co., both of whom have seen incredible success. These Indigenous entrepreneurs told the group how their digital strategy contributed to their success and how they saw the future unfolding.

2. The second part of the workshop was an afternoon working session where the entire audience came together to brainstorm innovative ways in which the public and private sectors can work together to support entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities.

The following report is an overview of the conversation and our takeaways of the state of Indigenous entrepreneurship in Canada, as well as a summary of how the public and private sectors can work to unlock the full potential of Indigenous entrepreneurship in Canada.

P. 5 Context: The State of Indigenous Entrepreneurship

Before exploring the lessons learned from the Indigenous-owned SMEs are a key factor in workshop and the path forward, it’s important achieving the potential estimated $100 billion to outline the current state of Indigenous that the Indigenous economy can contribute to entrepreneurship in Canada in the context of our Canada’s GDP. Entrepreneurship is an ingrained country’s overall small business climate. part of the Indigenous culture. These communities have a well-established history of commerce and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) entrepreneurship dating back to pre- and early post- continue to play a vital role in the economic health contact with Europeans. Indigenous communities of individual communities in Canada as well as built up robust trading networks, engaging with local the economy of the country as a whole. SMEs as well as distant populations. in Canada make up 99 per cent of all businesses and contribute more than 50 per cent of value However, while the opportunity for entrepreneurs is added to the country’s GDP.3 These businesses are there for most individuals to take advantage of, some contributing to the economy in a number of ways, communities still struggle to access the necessary accounting for 60 per cent of total employment4 tools, infrastructure and resources needed to unlock and 85 per cent of net new employment between that opportunity. Indigenous peoples in Canada are 2013-2017.5 The evolution of digital commerce has one population that faces barriers when attempting opened up incredible opportunities for individuals to launch and grow a business. These barriers to launch and scale a business from anywhere with prevent them from reaping the full benefits of a instant access to a worldwide customer base and digital marketplace in a more globalized society. tools that seamlessly allow entrepreneurs to run their operations. Althea Wishlof, an analyst with Panache ventures, told PayPal that the barriers in Indigenous Indigenous communities are also significantly communities, both in urban settings and on reserve, contributing to the Canadian economy. There are plentiful. are 1.6 million Indigenous peoples in Canada representing over 700 diferent communities and “Lack of connectivity, lack of federal funding, lack making up five per cent of the overall population. of education and overall the stigma in our society That population is rapidly rising as well with 46 per surrounding what being indigenous means, it’s cent of the population under 25. In fact, Indigenous often plagued with negative stereotypes versus peoples in Canada are the youngest, fastest growing seeing indigenous people as they are and the way demographic in the country.6 Additionally, the they are currently thriving.” Indigenous economy contributes $32 billion to Canada’s GDP annually, with an estimated increase to $100 billion by 2024 if the full potential of those individuals is unleashed.7

P. 6 For small businesses to thrive, Canada needs an inclusive economy where business owners of all backgrounds can succeed.

Despite historical disadvantages, Indigenous-owned SMEs have been steadily growing in recent years. Indigenous-owned businesses are being created at nine times the average rate of Canadian business creation overall, and now exceeds 50,000 total firms, 88 per-cent of which are SMEs. Additionally, the percentage of Indigenous entrepreneurs under age 45 is nearly 45 per-cent, compared to 36 per-cent of non-Indigenous entrepreneurs. 8

Indigenous entrepreneurs are also increasingly doing business beyond the borders of Canada, taking advantage of the opportunities that digital commerce provides to reach customers globally. In fact, 24 percent of Indigenous-owned SMEs are selling This was never more apparent than during the early products and services internationally which is double stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when businesses the overall percentage of Canadian SME exporters.9 were figuring out how to navigate unprecedented Additionally, over half of those Indigenous exporters circumstances. In ’s Indigenous community, are reaching markets beyond the U.S., the most we saw business owners come together and promote popular export destination for a majority of Canadian each other, creating a hashtag #PowWowAlleyOnline businesses.10 Dakota Brant, who was introduced to encourage the public to discover and shop with a earlier in this paper, says it is critically important for number of Indigenous vendors. Indigenous SMEs – particularly those who operate in remote communities – to expand their business Aside from supporting other merchants, they and reach new markets to access a larger customer also made sure to take steps to support their base. Exporting has been an essential part of Sapling communities. In BC, Totem Design House donated & Flint’s success. Their story is not unique. PayPal $30 from each print sold to a scholarship fund for research conducted in 2018 found that exporting Indigenous students pursuing a career in health small businesses saw three per cent more growth care. Dakota and Jesse Brant also pivoted from between 2016-2017 than non-exporting SMEs.11 manufacturing jewelry and added mask filter However, the tools to unlock that opportunity can be manufacturing to their list of products. Using their difcult for those populations to access. knowledge and experience as volunteer firefighters, they created high-quality filters and vowed to Indigenous-owned businesses are also creating donate some of them to front-line workers in at-risk more opportunities for their local community. The Indigenous communities. Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) estimates that 36 per-cent of Indigenous businesses are creating jobs for fellow Indigenous peoples. They tend to be a steadier and more reliable means of income as well.

P. 7 Barriers to Success and Opportunities for Change

Due to the barriers these communities historically, In today’s marketplace, the rate of SME creation the Canadian government has taken some important can be directly linked to the evolution of digital steps to encourage Indigenous entrepreneurship commerce. With the proper technology, an and support the Indigenous populations, including individual can launch and grow a business from consultation with Indigenous communities when their home while accessing customers from all operations may adversely afect Indigenous rights. over the world. PayPal’s research found that digital There have also been recent commitments to businesses in Canada grew more than 22 per cent provide more funding for Indigenous entrepreneurs in 2017 compared to less than one per cent growth and communities, and even more funding to year-over-year for their ofine counterparts.12 support these Indigenous- led small businesses For Indigenous peoples who live in isolated through the COVID-19 pandemic. communities, this opportunity is huge.

The recent eforts by the Canadian government to However, connectivity remains a major issue for those support and increase Indigenous entrepreneurship populations. In 2015, the percentage of Canadians as well as integration of Indigenous-owned SMEs with access to broadband internet was over 96 per- into the supply chain are positive first steps. cent. However, the percentages of access to high- However, there are systemic disadvantages that speed internet for those living on-reserve are often continue to afect these communities, some of much lower. In 2011, the Centre for the Study of which impact the generations diferently. Living Standards found that only 70 per cent of First Nations reserves had access to at least one broadband internet service provider. In fact, a majority of that 70 per cent only had the one ofering which severely limits competition and leads to higher prices in those markets.13 The least expensive broadband service in Nunavut, for example, is more expensive than the cheapest ofered in any other province. 14

Connectivity One of the workshop participants stated that there are days when she has no access to Internet from 1 While the digital world has democratized p.m. to 4 p.m. because the servers are overloaded. opportunity for entrepreneurs and enabled small This severely impacts her ability to run her business businesses to launch from all corners, it is still and make sales. “So much of your success is being difcult for some communities to connect online. able to connect to your customer,” she said. One of the most important keys to success for any community is proper infrastructure. Having the For Indigenous entrepreneurs located in remote necessities of everyday life that other individuals areas or on-reserve with limited Internet access, it enjoy is an obvious step towards leveling the playing can be difcult to compete with other SMEs who field for all entrepreneurs. are leveraging e-commerce.

P. 8 Many of these recommendations formed a part of Canada’s first national digital talent strategy, “Digital Talent - Road to 2020 and Beyond,” which was designed to ensure that Canada‘s current and future workers and entrepreneurs are equipped with the skills and competencies needed to succeed Technology and Innovation Talent in our increasingly digital and global economy.

The 2018 federal budget set a goal to close Quick facts: employment and earning gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The employment gap • Only 1.3 per cent of tech occupations were can be significantly reduced if more Indigenous occupied by people from Aboriginal groups. peoples participated in the technology and • Aboriginal tech workers were paid much less innovation sectors. than their non-Aboriginal counterparts— The involvement of Indigenous peoples in the ranging from $30,000 lower on average technology sector was outlined by the Brookfield for Inuit tech workers, to $3,400 lower for Institute report, Who are Canada’s Tech Workers. Métis workers. The report states that among enumerated • Women working in tech occupations who also Indigenous Peoples in Canada, participation in tech identified as Aboriginal earned less than their occupations in 2016 was much lower (at 2.2 per-cent male counterparts. or 13,000 people) when compared with individuals with non-Indigenous identities (at 5.2 per-cent or 921,000 people).

As more businesses adopt digital technology, the demand for talent with strong digital skills will continue to grow. We must ensure we engage all available talent to prevent shortages. Despite being one of the fastest-growing populations in Canada, Indigenous Peoples remain significantly Education underrepresented within Canada’s labour force. Often overlooked, they are not always seen as a Another obstacle for Indigenous communities is potential solution to fill existing labour gaps. education. A 2011 study by the C.D. Howe Institute found that only 40 per cent of young adults living Comprising approximately 4 per cent of Canada’s on-reserve graduated from high school. At the total population, Indigenous peoples have a lot to PayPal workshop, Dakota Brant of Indigenous ofer the digital economy. The long-term economic jewellery manufacturer Sapling and Flint told the benefits of increasing their participation rates would room, “Young people are digitally savvy, but they translate into a greater supply of skilled talent for the are getting an old-school education which is causing technology sector and generate an additional $335 them to drop out because they don’t see the value.” billion in real economic activity.

P. 9 This has led to a gap in higher education as well. democratizing opportunity for entrepreneurs, Only one-third of Indigenous people between 25-64 particularly in underserved areas of the country. The have at least a college diploma, compared to over use of new information and metrics to assess risk half of all Canadians in the same age range.15 Due to is closing the gap for underserved entrepreneurs, these inefciencies in on-reserve infrastructure, this such as minority and female-owned businesses. rapidly-growing younger generation of Indigenous Encouraging this innovation and supporting our peoples are leaving for an urban environment. As entrepreneurs creates a healthier ecosystem and a result, First Nations communities are losing their encourages a new generation of small business brightest and best to urban centers. owners to launch in their communities.

However, the educational gap isn’t only persistent Access to finance is a problem that is acutely in the younger generation. The lack of digital skills felt by minority populations, and Indigenous among the older generations is also a serious entrepreneurs are no diferent. While programs obstacle to launching and growing a business. have been established to help minority and female- “There are lots of people who don’t even know how owned businesses access financing more easily, to email,” said Ms. Brant. “I had the benefit of going Indigenous entrepreneurs sometimes feel left out of to university and becoming digitally literate so when this equation. Althea Wishlof said during PayPal’s I started my business, figuring out how to set up a panel, “I see at various diversity and inclusion website or integrate PayPal wasn’t difcult.” events that Indigenous populations are the most underrepresented. We have funds focused on other diverse groups, but Indigenous groups are underserved.”

The current gap in access to capital for Indigenous entrepreneurs when compared to the level serving mainstream Canada is $83 billion.16 According to Waterstone Strategies, closing this gap could add Access to Finance $3.6 billion to Indigenous populations contribution to Canada’s GDP. Access to finance is a key to success for all small businesses. Being able to manage cash flow, buy One of the biggest obstacles for Indigenous-owned inventory or take a business to the next level by SMEs trying to get funding from traditional financial hiring an employee or investing in marketing are all institutions is the lack of collateral that is often determined by the ability to access finance. However, required to acquire a loan. Canadian law prevents small businesses often struggle to get funding from Indigenous people from using reserve lands as traditional financial institutions because difculties collateral. As Ms. Brant said during the panel, “All I of risk assessment or the need for lower-dollar loans have is land, but I can’t use that as collateral, so I don’t meant that these Indigenous business are less profitable have any collateral.” customers for traditional financial institutions. These issues led to Indigenous entrepreneurs being Enabling Indigenous entreprenuers with access to less likely to apply for a loan in the first place, similar capital, particularly in the early years of development, to other minority groups. The CCAB found that is critical to unlocking their potential to grow Indigenous businesses use personal savings as the and thrive. Innovative methods of financing are main source of financing their SME.

P. 10 Procurement

Another opportunity to level the playing field for A recent study by the CCAB found that Indigenous Indigenous businesses and reduce the isolation businesses have the capacity to supply over 24 per experienced by these communities is through cent of the goods and services purchased by the increasing procurement of Indigenous products Canadian government. The CCAB concludes that the and services. PSAB should establish a new target of five per cent, steadily increasing the procurement of Indigenous According to the Treasury Board of Canada, products and services by one per cent year-over-year federal procurement spending in 2015 totaled $20 for the next five years. The socio-economic impact billion. However, only $63 million was supplied by of purchasing more from Indigenous communities Indigenous businesses through the Procurement would be felt immediately and reach beyond the Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB) — less SME population. than one per cent of the total spend and a serious underrepresentation of the potential Indigenous SMEs can provide. Some of this stems from biases, intentional or not. “We are fighting people’s preconceived notions about Indigenous peoples,” said Mark Marsolais Nahwegahbow, owner of Birch Bark Cofee.

P. 11 Breaking Down Barriers

There are many ways that the private and public However, an important consideration is what sectors can work together to break down barriers happens once a community becomes connected. It is to Indigenous entrepreneurs. As we look at the crucial to also facilitate conversation around privacy various obstacles to Indigenous entrepreneurs, it is and trust. This feeds into the next obstacle which is a important to note the progress that has been made lack of quality education and digital skills. but also the tremendous amount of work still to be done. Much of this progress is rooted in addressing Higher education is associated with a higher historical legal and regulatory barriers that are propensity for Indigenous-owned SMEs to export.17 holding back Indigenous economic opportunity. Gaining the necessary skills to take your business online and expand to new markets can achieve First, investing in infrastructure on-reserve is greater economic equity. Many of the panel a huge key to opening greater opportunity for participants cited the need to communicate the Indigenous SMEs. One participant said, “It is hard value of education to the younger generation of to get skin in the game when you don’t own any Indigenous peoples. Helping them to understand the infrastructure. The infrastructure economy is a doors that it will open for them can lead to greater huge untapped opportunity.” self-sufciency. One participant commented, “We tell young people that Internet is a waste of time when in One of the suggestions that came out of the reality the opportunity is huge when it comes to the workshop was that by incentivizing Internet digital economy.” Service Providers to set up on reserve lands, more competition will institute price controls so that Training and educating Indigenous populations in economically distressed communities can aford to digital skills will allow those communities to set up be connected. This will allow SMEs to grow and reach and be self-sufcient when it comes to managing a global customer base while also being more active broadband networks, creating new jobs. Centre for on social media, which was cited as an increasingly Indigenous Innovation and Technology founder important success factor. Jarret Leaman said, “We need to focus on reskilling

P. 12 and bringing our community into the tech sector. been presented to set realistic goals for increasing Indigenous populations bring a huge amount of the reliance on Indigenous products and services. knowledge and ideas to the table. We need to bring Also, combatting some of the inherent biases is that perspective to the digital space.” the first step towards reconciling the issue through both policy and practice. Businesses in the private During a recent conversation with Dakota Brant, sector can also demonstrate their commitment she told us that a lot of employment services that to Indigenous communities by seeking more are designed for the community focus on finding partnerships with Indigenous SMEs. Indigenous people an employer, rather than teaching them how to be their own boss. That strong, Finally, perhaps most importantly, as is the case resilient entrepreneurial spirit that Indigenous for the entire SME community, networking and people are known for isn’t being fostered, she said, mentorship are a critical key to success. Being able and it’s a disservice. to develop relationships and interact with fellow entrepreneurs who have been through the same There are also challenges in existing HR practices trials and tribulations can be a game changer for such as job postings, which may not reflect or SMEs. Being able to see someone who looks like provide recognition of the skills brought forward you and has come from a similar background who by Indigenous people. Companies should also look has succeeded and overcome those obstacles at how they recruit and make concerted eforts to can particularly inspire entrepreneurs. “Making reach beyond traditional methods to seek out the connections is the key to growth,” said another Indigenous talent where they are. workshop participant. By increasing programming for Indigenous entrepreneurs, it can build up the pool of When it comes to closing the gap in access to available mentors so that burgeoning entrepreneurs capital, there are some concrete steps that the feel heard and supported. public and private sector can take to address the issue. Expanding investments in those communities, in particular setting up venture capital programming similar to efforts focused at other minority populations is an important step the private sector can take.

“Investors need to learn more about our communities and the inequalities that they have learned about other communities,” a participant said.

A pivotal aspect of increasing access to capital is increasing access to knowledge and tools that educate entrepreneurs on all of the options available to them. Learning how to navigate various programs, including alternative lenders, can be a key to unlocking capital that is vital to growth.

When it comes to procurement, the government can consider recommendations that have already

P. 13 PayPal’s Commitment: Responding the call to action

After a six-year inquiry into the legacy of In 2018, we recognized the importance of bringing Canada’s residential school system, the Truth and Indigenous business leaders into the conversation, Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) final report starting with our Small Business Growth Council emphasized that it is everyone’s responsibility to (SBGC). The diverse group, comprised of 20 merchants, improve relationships between non-Indigenous included Indigenous business owners from the Prairies and Indigenous communities. The 2015 report and Western Canada. The focus of the SBGC was to released by the TRC included 94 ‘Calls to Action’ to learn about challenges in their industry while giving specific audiences and further demonstrated that them early access to some of the tools and solutions all Canadians have a role to play in reconciliation we introduced. The Council was also meant to be an — including corporate Canada. Action #92 calls opportunity to network with other business leaders on Corporate Canada to commit to meaningful across the country. engagement with Indigenous peoples, to provide equitable access to opportunities in the corporate Outside of our SBGC, we’ve made eforts to sector and to promote cultural awareness and staunchly support and promote Indigenous understanding. businesses at every turn.

Additionally, a 2016 CCAB report recommends: PayPal is committed to the principles of the TRC “Aboriginal communities and governments, federal and has worked to deepen our engagement with and provincial governments and non-Aboriginal Indigenous communities, including visits to to businesses all have important roles to play in Indigenous communities to meet face-to-face with helping these businesses achieve their full potential, entrepreneurs and consumers who use our services by recognizing and promoting awareness of their daily. We’ve hosted Indigenous business leaders in value – not only for Aboriginal Peoples themselves our ofce who wanted to speak to our team about but for Canada as a whole.”18 some of the unique challenges they face as they tackle e-commerce – barriers like a lack of connectivity and a PayPal’s interest in championing the Indigenous lack of credit. The business leaders we have met have community and expanding our knowledge and taught us what entrepreneurial spirit is all about – an understanding of the history of First Nations, unwavering commitment to overcoming adversity all Metis and Inuit peoples in Canada began before while staying true to your roots. our workshop. We’ve made numerous donations to Indigenous-focused charities because we understand As part of our Business Makeover Contest in 2018, we that support for budding entrepreneurs starts at the were deeply moved by the experiences from ‘Sapling & earliest stages of life. Flint’ business owners Dakota and Jesse Brant. In their entry, the twin sisters detailed how PayPal has enabled them to expand their business outside of their reserve to overseas.

P. 14 “PayPal has not only made us successful, but Making sure opportunities are inclusive of Indigenous created an economic opportunity that didn’t exist businesses has been a strong focus of ours. We’re before in our isolated community,” Dakota said. committed to highlighting and promoting Indigenous businesses throughout the year in marketing “Simply put, we would not exist without the online campaigns. In 2019, Indigenous merchants were market. When our customers from Canada, the US and included in International Women’s Day and Holiday Western Europe visit our website and see the PayPal shopping campaigns. In 2020, their stories will be logo at checkout—they immediately trust that they part of a special feature on entrepreneurs who have can shop from us because their purchase and financial pivoted meaningfully during the COVID-19 pandemic. details are protected. The recognition of online shopping security that customers have by seeing the The communities who have experienced hardships PayPal logo is something I simply can’t replace.” and barriers to success are best positioned to craft the solutions that will help eliminate them. When we learned about the low representation of Indigenous people in the tech sector and had the opportunity to learn more about the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Technology (CIIT), we knew we wanted to support the initiative both with a cash donation as well as in- kind services. CIIT is committed to building the tech leaders of tomorrow. As CIIT’s Growth Partner, we have committed $20,000 as well as our time as consultants on a variety of initiatives the centre is working on.

PayPal has also recently joined CCAB as a business partner to help them continue the great work they PayPal awarded the sisters $15K plus $2,500 in do at promoting and supporting Indigenous small shopping credits as well as their choice of a front-end businesses in Canada. This is an important step in our or back-end makeover of their ecommerce businesses work to support Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada. and a one-year-subscription to either an e-commerce This partnership will provide us with direct access to platform or accounting software Xero. Indigenous small businesses across Canada and the As a result, The Brant sisters were able to not only ability to share our products and services with them, significantly increase their output but they also used as well as many other opportunities to partner with their winnings to become the first jewelry wholesale CCAB on events, research, policy and advocacy. manufacturer that is completely Indigenous owned PayPal’s eforts, in partnership with CCAB and other and operated on a reserve. stakeholders, is focused on working towards removing “We hire Indigenous employees and artists. We the economic barriers that Indigenous peoples still manufacture, package & ship in an Indigenous face today. This work is grounded not only in an community. From A to Z, our brand is creating economic imperative to do so as a country, but also and distributing it back to Indigenous people. The our values as a company. contest winnings are helping bring job opportunities to our community,” said Dakota.

P. 15 Conclusion

The Indigenous business community is over 50,000 to continuing our support for the Indigenous-led strong with Indigenous people creating business at businesses through our business solutions. We nine times the rate of the average Canadian. Success will continue to promote their businesses, and in Canada’s economy will increasingly require strong ofer our expertise through available mentorship relationships between Indigenous peoples and opportunities and our partnership with CIIT and Canadian businesses. CCAB. Most importantly, we are here to listen and learn and explore new opportunities to meaningfully It is important for the private and public sectors contribute to their success. Our reconciliation eforts to look beyond the economic potential and view to learn, understand and support are far from over. their relationship with Indigenous Peoples as a They are just beginning. partnership. While funding and more investment can benefit those communities, the partnership can be much more meaningful when it is built on trust and mutual understanding. A one size-fits-all approach will not be efective to address the needs of Indigenous entrepreneurs. Only by developing flexible programs and working in tandem with those individuals, can the full potential of those SMEs be reached. PayPal is wholeheartedly committed

P. 16 References

1 Report from Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables: Report – Resources of the Future

2 Aboriginal Business Survey, CCAB, 2016

3 https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03090.html#point5-1

4 https://www.oecd.org/publications/sme-and-entrepreneurship-policy-in-canada-9789264273467-en.htm

5 https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03090.html#point2-2

6 https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CCAB-Two-Pager-Design-Final-Digital_AA-FINAL.pdf

7 http://indigenomicsinstitute.com/100-billion/

8 https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CCAB_GAC-Indigenous-Exporting-SMEs-in-Canada-EN.pdf

9 https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CCAB_GAC-Indigenous-Exporting-SMEs-in-Canada-EN.pdf

10 ibid

11 https://publicpolicy.paypal-corp.com/sites/default/files/policy/Digital-Commerce-How-Canadian-Businesses-are- Growing-and-Trading-Internationally.pdf

12 https://publicpolicy.paypal-corp.com/sites/default/files/policy/Digital-Commerce-How-Canadian-Businesses-are- Growing-and-Trading-Internationally.pdf

13 http://www.csls.ca/reports/csls2013-04.pdf

14 https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/policymonitoring/2016/cmr2.htm

15 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171129/dq171129a-eng.htm

16 http://www.naedb-cndea.com/reports/ACCESS_TO_CAPITAL_REPORT.pdf

17 https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CCAB_GAC-Indigenous-Exporting-SMEs-in-Canada-EN.pdf

18 https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CCAB-PP-Report-V2-SQ-Pages.pdf